Defunding Big Abortion & Planned Parenthood

119th Congress convenes, with new pro-life leaders in both chambers.

SBA Pro-Life America hosts its New Members Welcome Reception in Washington, D.C. Marjorie Dannenfelser and SBA supporters from across the country welcome over 40 members of Congress, celebrating their recent elections and what is to come. Featured speakers include Senator James Lankford (OK), Rep. Brandon Gill (TX), and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson.

SBA launches its first round of Defund Big Abortion constituent calls, connecting voters directly with key members of Congress. Over 33,000 calls are placed to 35 House members and 14 senators.

SBA launches digital outreach to educate and equip lawmakers to defund big abortion through the reconciliation process. Starting with Mayela Banks’ Planned Parenthood late-term abortion coercion story on Feb. 13, SBA News publishes a total of 17 articles and features throughout the duration of the defunding effort.

The New York Times admits Planned Parenthood botches abortions and injures women. SBA seizes the moment to highlight that even the most liberal media recognize the harm—and that Planned Parenthood doesn’t deserve a single taxpayer dollar.

House votes and passes budget resolution.

SBA’s Federal Affairs team kicks off its freshmen meeting tour, welcoming the newest class of Congress and equipping them with resources to defund Big Abortion. The team completes over 30 in-person meetings with freshmen members, senators, and staff, building lasting relationships and positioning SBA as the go-to pro-life resource on Capitol Hill.

SBA launches a ten-episode podcast season on the horrors of Planned Parenthood. The season kicks off with an interview with David Daleiden, who exposed Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the sale of baby body parts and fueled the defunding effort from the beginning.

SBA leads a nationwide coalition in presenting a joint letter to Congress urging the defunding of Big Abortion once and for all. Over 150 pro-life leaders from all 50 states sign on. SBA’s communications team partners with Fox News to release an exclusive story on the letter and our work on Capitol Hill.

SBA leads a coalition of pro-life advocacy groups and hosts hundreds of activists from across the country for a lobby day on Capitol Hill urging congressional Republicans to defund Big Abortion and Planned Parenthood in reconciliation.

SBA hosts a press conference with SFLA on Capitol Hill where Marjorie Dannenfesler, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Rep. Chris Smith, Rep. Mary Miller, Rep. Andy Biggs, and pro-life leaders from multiple organizations join together to call for the defunding of big abortion in the One Big Beautiful Bill. Sixteen national media outlets publish stories on the defunding effort as a result.

SBA’s Federal Affairs team presents at two Defunding Big Abortion congressional staff briefings on Capitol Hill, one on the House side and one on the Senate side.

House passes Senate budget resolution.

Senate votes and passes budget resolution.

Speaker Mike Johnson commits to defunding Big Abortion led by Planned Parenthood in the reconciliation bill during his keynote address at SBA’s Gala.

Charlotte Lozier Institute releases new research showing community health centers outnumber Planned Parenthood facilities 15 to 1. This comprehensive study is shared with legislators on Capitol Hill and the media to get the truth out there that women do not need Planned Parenthood.

SBA and Charlotte Lozier Institute host a congressional staff briefing at the Capitol to discuss defunding Big Abortion through the reconciliation process. The briefing also highlights CLI’s latest study showing that for every Planned Parenthood facility, there are 15 community health centers providing more comprehensive, life-affirming care.

SBA launches constituent calls, targeting key House members in strategic decision-making positions. Over 3,300 calls are made to their D.C. and district offices. Constituents deliver a clear message to their offices: Big Abortion must be defunded, and the bill must pass now.

SBA’s National Pro-Life Leaders network sends a letter from state legislators in 49 states urging congressional leaders to defund abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood.

In the House, committees of jurisdiction–the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House Budget Committee, and the House Rules Committee–draft and approve a reconciliation bill that includes defunding Big Abortion of Medicaid funding. The House Energy and Commerce Committee releases its portion of the reconciliation bill text which includes language defunding Big Abortion of its Medicaid funding over a 10-year period. The other committees of jurisdiction, House Budget and House Rules, approve the bill.

A new Charlotte Lozier Institute report reveals public funding is a key driver of Planned Parenthood’s $2B abortion business, with nearly $700M from government reimbursements and grants.

The House passes its reconciliation bill, which stops forced taxpayer funding of the Big Abortion industry in Medicaid.

CLI releases a pivotal peer-reviewed article published in the journal BioTech that challenges and disproves Big Abortion’s baseless claim that “abortion drugs are safer than Tylenol” because it lacks scientific credibility and evidence.

CLI releases a report showing abortions continue to rise post-Dobbs.

CLI releases a peer-reviewed study uncovering widespread miscoding of emergency room (ER) visits following drug-induced abortions, which have increased as Big Abortion removed in-person screening. Women were then told that ER doctors don’t need to know they are treating abortion complications, raising serious concerns about patient safety.

SBA publishes a dozen op-eds in national conservative outlets and state newspapers calling for the defunding of big abortion. On June 12, SBA Communications Specialist Emily Davis is published in Evie magazine. Her op-ed, “One Big Beautiful Chance to Stop Forced Taxpayer Funding of Big Abortion,” is shared widely – including by White House staff.

CLI releases a peer-reviewed article highlighting the factors behind the 20% rise in U.S. abortions from 2017-2023, reversing a 30-year decline. The article emphasizes trends suggesting Planned Parenthood’s intensified focus on abortion and the increased reliance on abortion drugs have driven the U.S. abortion rate and contributed to this sharp upward trend.

The Senate Finance Committee releases its portion of the reconciliation bill text, which includes language defunding Big Abortion of its Medicaid funding, mirroring House action.

SBA president Marjorie Dannenfelser is in the Senate chamber as the Senate passes the reconciliation bill, with 1-year defunding of Big Abortion included after being cleared by the Senate parliamentarian.

SBA launches constituent calls targeting key senators and Senate leadership. 5,500 calls are made to their D.C. and district offices. Constituents deliver a clear message to their offices: Big Abortion must be defunded, and the bill must pass now.

SBA and SBA Education Fund launch a TV and digital ad campaign exposing Planned Parenthood’s prioritization of politics and profits over women’s health, running during key congressional consideration of the reconciliation bill.

SBA launches constituent calls targeting key House members in strategic decision-making positions. Over 11,000 calls are made to their D.C. and district offices. Constituents deliver a clear message to their offices: Big Abortion must be defunded, and the bill must pass now.

The House votes 218-214 to approve the final reconciliation bill—including the 1-year defunding of Big Abortion. SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser is in the House for the vote, as a guest of House leadership.

President Trump signs the reconciliation bill—stripping Big Abortion and Planned Parenthood of Medicaid funding for the first time in history.

SBA hosts a celebration on Capitol Hill to mark the historic victory of defunding Big Abortion. The event drew more than 200 pro-life supporters, including grassroots activists, members of Congress, coalition allies and SBA staff. Speaker Mike Johnson and Senator Lindsey Graham attended in recognition of this landmark victory.